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Spicy Tomatillo Salsa

Tomatillos are also called husk tomatoes because they grow wrapped in a thin paper-like husk, and they look like small green tomatoes. Let’s be clear, though – they are not tomatoes. They are denser, and have a unique bright, tart, and fruity flavor well suited for making tomatillo salsa. This spicy tomatillo salsa recipe calls for roasting the tomatillos to deepen their flavor. They can also be eaten raw, grilled, or simmered.

6 Pints of Tomatillo Salsa

Tomatillos are very prolific when grown in the garden. In fact, this season we had enough to make 12 pints of salsa for the freezer (I doubled the recipe and then made it 4 times). I used jalapeños from our garden; they were fully ripe and had turned red. If you use green jalapeños, the salsa will be a brighter shade of green. Either way this spicy tomatillo salsa is delicious!


Method Overview

  • Broil roast tomatillos and peppers
  • Remove skins and seeds from peppers
  • Place all of the ingredients into a food processor
  • Pulse until salsa is at desired consistency

6 Pints of Tomatillo Salsa
Print Recipe
5 from 12 votes

Spicy Tomatillo Salsa

This recipe makes approximately 2-1/2 cups
Course: condiment
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: corn-free, gluten-free, oil-free, plant based, sugar-free, vegan
Servings: 40 servings
Calories: 4kcal

Equipment

  • rimmed baking sheet
  • food processor

Ingredients

  • 1-1/2 pounds tomatillos, husked and rinsed
  • 1 or 2 medium jalapenos
  • 1 small poblano pepper
  • 1/2 cup diced yellow onion
  • 1 garlic clove, diced
  • 3 Tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice or lemon juice
  • 1/3 cup fresh cilantro leaves, packed
  • 1/4 – 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon Himalayan sea salt

Instructions

  • Preheat the broiler.
  • Put the tomatillos, jalapeño pepper(s), and poblano pepper onto a baking sheet. Broil, about 6 inches from the heat for about 5 minutes. Remove the sheet from the oven and turn everything over, then broil for about 4 more minutes. Everything will be blackened in spots, and the tomatillos will have released some of their juices.
  • In the meantime, put the remaining ingredients into a food processor.
  • When ready, remove the sheet from the broiler and let cool.
  • Cut the peppers in half and remove the seeds and stems; also remove most of the charred skin.
  • Put the tomatillos, their juices, and the peppers into the food processor and pulse until the salsa is at the desired consistency (I prefer it a bit chunky).

Notes

  • Some jalapeños and poblanos are riper, thus hotter than others. Taste a tiny bit to gauge the level of heat, then you’ll know how much to add to the recipe.
  • If you are sensitive, wear gloves when working with jalapeños and poblanos so you don’t burn your hands (the seeds contain the most heat). Don’t touch your eyes or face until you’ve washed up.
  • Please note, this recipe is not meant to be canned.

Nutrition

Serving: 2Tablespoons | Calories: 4kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Sodium: 22mg | Potassium: 26mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 32IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 1mg | Iron: 1mg
In background, a bowl of tomatillos with husks still intact. In foreground, a jar of tomatillo salsa
Tomatillo Salsa made with green jalapeños

FAQs

Can you freeze homemade salsa?

Yes! You can freeze salsa in either glass mason jars or plastic bags.
Freezing in glass jars
• Place the salsa in clean, pint-sized mason jars
• Look for the words “fill line” etched near the top of the mason jars. Don’t fill beyond that line. The jars may crack if they are overfilled when the product heaves and expands.
• As an optional step, lay a piece of parchment paper on top of the salsa to prevent freezer burn.
• Cap the jars, label, and place in your freezer. For best results the temperature should be 0ºF or lower. The rear and lower shelves of the freezer tend to be the coldest locations.
Freezing in plastic bags
• You may prefer to freeze the salsa in bags so you can stack them in flat packages. A vacuum sealer such as a FoodSaver helps to remove the air from the packages so the quality is preserved. The FoodSaver bags are BPA-free.
• Salsa can also be frozen in zip top style freezer bags; however, it may develop freezer burn if air leaks back into the bags. Use your hands to try and squeeze as much air from the bag as possible before locking. Then open just enough of the seal to slide a straw into the bag. Suck out any remaining air through the straw and seal well. Consider using a freezer bag with a double seal; some are BPA-free.

If you like this recipe for Spicy Tomatillo Salsa, you may also like my Salsa Roma recipe.

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